A GLASS of orange juice with meals could lower the risk of heart disease and strokes, according to new research.

A study, conducted by scientists at the University of Leeds and published in the Journal of Nutrition, has found that drinking blood (red) orange juice with meals leads to an improvement in the elasticity of blood vessels.

Vascular function – the health and function of blood vessels – is a known marker for the risk of heart disease and stroke. Previous clinical trials have estimated that a 1 percent rise in flow-mediated dilation – a method of assessing vascular function – is associated with an 8-13 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease risk. Antioxidant plant compounds, especially polyphenols found abundantly in fruits and vegetables, have been shown to boost flow-mediated dilation.

In the new randomised controlled crossover trial, healthy adults aged 20 to 45 years drank a glass of blood orange juice with breakfast and dinner for two weeks. After a ‘washout’ week, the participants repeated the study but, this time drank a placebo drink for two weeks with meals. The drinks, which contained similar calories and total sugar levels and were purchased from a local supermarket were presented in a randomised order. Background diets stayed the same with each drink option.

Study author Professor Karen Birch, said: “The results showed that drinking blood orange juice with meals improved flow-mediated dilation by 2 percent – a statistically significant finding. Artery girth also significantly increased after the orange juice compared with a placebo drink. Importantly, there were no changes in body weight during the interventions”.

Lead author, Dr Christine Bosch, added: “This study adds to growing evidence that polyphenols found naturally in citrus fruits and their juices have a positive impact on the health and function of our blood vessels. Vascular function is a marker of cardiovascular disease risk, so improving it can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. It’s now becoming clear that following a diet rich in polyphenols – including a daily glass of blood or regular orange juice as per UK dietary guidelines – supports optimal vascular function."